Herald of prosperity

An ancient symbol of honesty, benevolence and knowledge, the Chinese mythical phoenix’s rare appearances were believed to herald forthcoming happiness, harmony and prosperity. Traditionally, it is portrayed as a fusion of several other birds - including the head of a pheasant, the body of a mandarin duck, the tail of a peacock, the beak of a parrot, and the wings of a swallow.

Immortal design

Reflecting the bird’s auspicious status, the coin portrays an immortal phoenix as the fusion of several other birds. In its beak is the flower of a paulownia tree, said to be the only species on which the phoenix will perch. Also included in the design are stylised representations of clouds, symbols of abundance and good fortune, and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.